BEIRUT -- Lebanese officials expressed deep sorrow over the major fire that has engulfed the medieval cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, one of France's most famous landmarks.

"This is a humanitarian and cultural disaster that cannot be described," Prime Minister Saad Hariri was quoted as saying by the National News Agency on Tuesday, expressing Lebanon's solidarity with the French people. (Lebanon-France-Fire)

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TRIPOLI -- A total of 174 people were killed and 756 others wounded in the fighting between the UN-backed Libyan government and the east-based army in and around the capital Tripoli so far, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.

"Tripoli toll is now 174 dead and 756 wounded. Additional surgical staff to support hospitals receiving trauma cases were deployed," the WHO tweeted. (Libya-Death Toll)

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TUNIS -- Tunisian Defense Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi said Tuesday that two armed groups of different European nationalities have been arrested while attempting to cross the Tunisia-Libya borders.

"The first armed group was composed of 11 members of different European nationalities," said Zbidi at a press briefing, adding that they were arrested while trying to cross the Tunisia-Libya maritime border last Sunday aboard two inflatable boats. (Tunisia-Europe-Arrests)

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JERUSALEM -- Israel's president said on Tuesday that a majority of lawmakers had advised him to task incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the government following the recent elections.

President Reuven Rivlin said in a broadcast that 65 members of the newly-elected parliament, or Knesset, had recommended him to task Netanyahu with forming the government. (Israel-Netanyahu) Enditem

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